RHINELANDER - Attention to small details will help two families save some money on their utility bills. Rhinelander High School students in the Building Trades Program built an energy star duplex.

"There are about ten percent of homes north of Highway 29 that can say they have that label," said building instructor, Russ Germain. "I think it only makes sense if we're in the education business to educate possible future builders and homeowners."

An energy star home has most of its small cracks sealed up tightly to stop heat from escaping.

The program uses more expensive products to make sure the house conserves energy.

"We use different products," said Germain. "We spend more money on things that will essentially make the house tighter while providing good ventilation so it's a healthy home as well."

Getting the energy star certification wasn't easy. The students had to build the entire house differently than normal.

"We frame differently. We insulate differently. When it comes to air sealing, we try to do a really good job of eliminating leaks," said Germain.

The students used a unique framing technique.

"We wanted to try to frame so that it's a good, strong, safe home but we're not wasting a lot of material. We're actually adding more insulation to our walls so ultimately the customer is going to benefit," said Germain.

The duplex is finally done and will be available for rent sometime in July.

LINCOLN COUNTY - We can add one more northern Wisconsin county to the list of those who finished the recount.

Lincoln County finished up Wednesday afternoon, and it didn't see much change.

Lincoln County Clerk Chris Marlowe said the totals fluctuated a bit within each town, but county-wide each presidential candidate gained onevote.

Marlowe said although it was tedious,he learned a lot.

"You know when we do our training and discuss all these things it's always, we always reference the possibility of a count, a recount," Marlowe said. "And it's one thing referencing a recount and it's another thing actually doing the recount."

Lincoln County re-counted all the votes by hand. There were 16 volunteers, and they went through close to 15,000 votes.

The statewide recount cost Jill Stein about $3.5 million.

"You know, at the end of the day was it worth the money, I don't think so, but you know, we gained experience," Marlowe said.

RHINELANDER - We often bring you stories of efforts to fight aquatic invasive species in the Northwoods during the summer. It's tempting to think that invasives don't pose a problem during the winter.

But conservation workers want you to rethink that idea. Species like Eurasian watermilfoil don't simply wither underwater in the winter.

"Eurasian watermilfoil is considered a perennial. However, I consider it an evergreen. A lot of people do," said Oneida County AIS Coordinator Stephanie Boismenue. "The reason being is it's winter-hardy. It's capable to live and grow underneath the ice."

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